Training the mind in happiness

“What is happiness and how can we achieve it? Happiness is not limited to a few agreeable sensations, intense pleasure or a burst of joy. Rather, it is a way of being and of experiencing the world; a profound fulfilment that suffuses every instant of life and endures despite the inevitable daily hazards we encounter. A lack of well-being reflects a fundamental vulnerability to suffering, which ultimately can lead to a sense of self-loathing, a feeling that life is not worth living because we cannot find any meaning in it.
Genuine happiness
   We all seek some kind of happiness and a sense of fulfilment. No one wakes up in the morning thinking, ‘May I suffer the whole day.’ When we engage freely in any long-term activity, we do so in the hope that it will increase our well-being or that of others. We usually look outside for the causes of happiness. Likewise, when things go wrong, we instinctively search for outer remedies and try to change the conditions to suit ourselves. This often fails as, unfortunately, our control of the outer world is limited, temporary and often illusory. In fact, it is our mind that translates outer conditions into happiness or suffering, and, even though it may not be easy to transform one’s mind, it is something that lies within the reach of our capacities. Genuine happiness is being in a deep sense of fulfilment that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind; a way of being that pervades all emotional states, and gives us the inner resources to deal with whatever comes our way.
Importance of inner conditions
   We know that our state of mind can override outer conditions: in the midst of difficult circumstances, we can preserve our inner strength, dignity and peace of mind. On the contrary, we may live in a ‘little paradise’ where all the outer favourable conditions are gathered and yet feel great suffering within. Thus it is clear, that although outer conditions can considerably influence our well-being, they don’t dictate it. It is indeed highly desirable to enjoy a long and healthy life, freedom and access to knowledge, but it is even more important to identify the inner conditions that lead to genuine well-being and those that destroy it. For this, we first need to apply insight and mindfulness. Secondly, we must cultivate the states of mind that favour authentic happiness and eliminate the afflictive thoughts and emotions that undermine it. This requires determination and perseverance. The whole process is called ‘mind training’ and it lies at the heart of contemplative science...”

   This paper continues to discuss whether meditation and mental training can make a difference to a person’s state of mind and looks briefly at the results of collaboration between Buddhist scholars and Western scientists to establish more precisely and scientifically the effects of meditation on the mind. The paper was delivered by Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk, at the 2nd ‘Happiness & Its Causes’ conference in London in October 2008, and is reporduced with kind permission. Details of the conference and future events which are staged worldwide from www.happinessanditscauses.org. Details of the Mind Life Institute from www.mindandlife.org.